HondaCB650

Where to get raised white letter tires?

Where to get raised white letter tires?

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:27 pm

by papa-wheelie

Hello, this is my first post as I have just purchased a very nice '81 cb650. I don't have the custom model which came with the raised white letter (RWL) tires but was considering buying a set of comstar wheels and putting on a set of new RWL tires just like the custom model had.

2 problems I already ran into:

1.) Per my research, I can't find ANYTHING that comes in RWL for a 17'' wheel...(my current spoked rim is 17'').

2.) It seems (unless I'm wrong) that the ONLY way I'm going to get RWL tires is to first get different wheels (specifically a 16'' rear) to even have a chance to find RWL tires for them. I DID find a Bridgestone 130/90/16 RWL tire that would work for the rear assuming I get new wheels (16''). Also a Dunlop Elite mm 90/19 RWL for the front.

I'm wondering what everyone with a cb650"c" is doing for replacement of their RWL tires? Is everyone just going to all black tires because they can't find any RWL ones? Just wondering.

Also, is there any problem swapping out my current spoked rims (mint condition) for comstars?. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanceBernie

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 6:30 am

by Volker_P

Welcome here, Bernie! That's really a new aspect of tire choice for me. So I am sorry I can't help. But as all nowadays tires of common brands should be better than what you got in the eighties, I'd say there is nothing really wrong about that criterion.

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:14 am

by cb650

They have stoped making the dunlop qualifiers that was on the us customs. I found on front at a local shop in the discounted tires.As for the wheel swap if you stick with the 650 comstars it is a direct swap. You have to be carefull with the front as there are a couple diff widths. What youll want is a front off a 79 or 80 custom as they was still single disk. The dual disk wheels are slightly narower. I have some if you want to trade.

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 12:52 am

by papa-wheelie

Well, nothing like coming back after 7 years to answer my old post! Sorry, but better late than never.

Anyway, I was able to find some Dunlop Qualifiers on a set of comstars at a local motorcycle salvage yard. The bike they came off of was stored inside since new and the tires are in almost new condition. They look great with perfect tread. I would like to use them for leisurely neighborhood rides at low speeds as they should be fine for that. I understand that after 35 years they may have gotten 'hard' or whatever, but I'll be very careful with them.

If any newer RWL tires have come out recently, I would be interested if anyone knows of any. [I still can't find any as of this post].

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Seems like the easy solution to me, these are listed in the UK so they must be available in the US.

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 11:37 pm

by papa-wheelie

Thanks for the link George. Only problem with that white marker is that the letters won't be 'raised'. I've seen that marker used before on non-raised tire lettering and it ended up looking a bit goofy. I was literally thinking of using a razor blade to slice off the letters of some old Dunlop qualifiers and then gluing them on the side of a tire. That may end up looking even worse if not done right but I'm at that point.

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:15 am

by GeorgeSweety

Hi papa, you are welcome mate but that is all I could come up with. I presume that you are in the U.S.? I don't think that tyres with RWL are, or ever have been in demand in the UK as I don't ever recall seeing any on sale over here.

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Re: Where to get raised white letter tires?

Thanks for the pic hosting site Folsom. I don't get it however since I 'previewed' my pic hosted on photobucket before I posted it and it showed up fine. Then, the next day it's gone!! What gives?

Anyway, I would normally be mad and upset that the pics I'm posting just disappear, but after seeing this beautiful image of a 1981 CB650 custom, I feel so much better again! The thing is, I'm not kidding!